GRAVITY DASH Review for iPhone

GRAVITY DASH: ENDLESS RUNNER by Free Range Robots, makes for a charming new addition to your collection of iPhone time-burning games. We have all played what seems like an infinitesimal amount of arcade-style obstacle games, but GRAVITY DASH has the characteristics of being one that stands out above the crowd.

The age-old goal in GRAVITY DASH is to continually one-up your high score by seeing how far you can run, dodging an array of obstructions intent on killing you.

Our runner has three moves to avoid these murderous obstacles; jump over the vicious spikes and medieval weapons, reverse gravity and walk upside down on the ceiling to avoid ground obstructions, and long jump/float around clusters of life-ending implements.  As we dash further and further, the hazards increase in volume and complexity. What starts out as hopping over a row of spikes turns into slipping through the opening between a circular saw and a swinging scythe in just the right sequence to avoid being shredded.

Endless runner games best separate themselves from the rest with catchy, tone appropriate tunes—this one does a great job. GRAVITY DASH is entertaining with the music either on or off. Repetitious 80’s arcade pop makes for a peppy soundtrack as your little runner dashes through tumultuous terrain, but there is an addictive quality to this game that keeps you engaged even if you have to play in silence.

Not only can your runner defy gravity, but the background scenery changes in elevation the further you get; rolling green hills turn to snow capped mountains, to rugged Transylvanian-esque landscape…and so on—higher and higher we climb. The graphics are simple and cute. Every time you collect an extra life, a ghost of yourself starts following behind you. I found it to be a fun side-challenge to see how big I could build my ghost entourage (best way to stay alive, too). Because the game is free, do expect to have ads pop up, but only when it’s game over—so stay alive as long as possible.

The only gripe I have with this game is that the collectable blue diamonds do not really seem to do anything. In a game such as this, everything (the movements, the scoring system…etc.) is laid out for you from the beginning tutorial, so it is a little jarring to expend your ghosts to retrieve these seemingly-useless tokens that are normally waiting for the taking in perilous places.

GRAVITY DASH has a great familiarity to the classic Boulder Dash and more modern favorites such as Despicable Me: Minion Rush and Flappy Bird, but it does possess its own distinguishable retro-revival qualities. If you’re looking for a game to pass the time in a crowded waiting room or boring meeting, or simply want a stress-busting distraction, GRAVITY DASH: ENDLESS RUNNER is a ‘one more time’ type of game that turns into a four hour binge. Absolutely worth a download.

Rating: 9/10

Here is the Gravity Dash Trailer:

Gravity Dash is now available on the App Store, Google Play, and Windows Store (touch-enabled devices). The game is free to download and play – and it includes in-app purchases.